Double Feast of Saint Irenaeus Bishop and Martyr
Missa "Lex veritátis"
RED Vestments
Information as to the life of the holy Father of the Church Saint Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, is scarce, and in some measure inexact. He was born in Proconsular Asia, or at least in some province bordering thereon, in the first half of the second century; the exact date is controverted, between the years 115 and 125, according to some, or, according to others, between 130 and 142. It is certain that, while still very young, Irenaeus had seen and heard the holy Bishop St. Polycarp (d. 155) at Smyrna. During the persecution of Marcus Aurelius, Irenaeus was a priest of the Church of Lyons. The clergy of that city, many of whom were suffering imprisonment for the Faith, sent him (177 or 178) to Rome with a letter to Pope Eleutherius concerning Montanism, and on that occasion bore emphatic testimony to his merits.
Returning to Gaul, Irenaeus succeeded the martyr St. Pothinus as Bishop of Lyons. During the religious peace which followed the persecution of Aurelius, the new bishop divided his activities between the duties of a pastor and of a missionary (as to which we have but brief data, late and not very certain) and his writings, almost all of which were directed against Gnosticism, the heresy then spreading in Gaul and elsewhere.
In 190 or 191 he interceded with Pope Victor to lift the sentence of excommunication laid by that pontiff upon the Christian communities of Asia Minor which persevered in the practice of the Quartodecimans in regard to the celebration of Easter. Nothing is known of the date of his death, which must have occurred at the end of the second or the beginning of the third century. In spite of some isolated and later testimony to that effect, it is not very probable that he ended hiscareer with martyrdom. His feast is celebrated on June 28 in the Latin Church, and on August 23 in the Greek.
Irenaeus wrote in Greek many works which have secured for him an exceptional place in Christian literature, because in controverted religious questions of capital importance they exhibit the testimony of a contemporary of the heroic age of the Church, of one who had heard St. Polycarp, the disciple of St. John, and who, in a manner, belonged to the Apostolic Age. None of these writings has come down to us in the original text, though a great many fragments of them are extant as citations in later writers (Hippolytus, Eusebius, etc.). Two of these works, however, have reached us in their entirety in a Latin version:
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A treatise in five books, commonly entitled Adversus haereses (Against Heresies), and devoted, according to its true title, to the "Detection and Overthrow of the False Knowledge" (see GNOSTICISM, sub-title Refutation of Gnosticism). Of this work we possess a very ancient Latin translation, the scrupulous fidelity of which is beyond doubt. It is the chief work of Irenaeus and truly of the highest importance; it contains a profound exposition not only of Gnosticism under its different forms, but also of the principal heresies which had sprung up in the various Christian communities, and thus constitutes an invaluable source of information on the most ancient ecclesiastical literature from its beginnings to the end of the second century.
In refuting the heterodox systems Irenaeus often opposes to them the true doctrine of the Church, and in this way furnishes positive and very early evidence of high importance. Suffice it to mention the passages, so often and so fully commented upon by theologians and polemical writers, concerning the origin of the Gospel according to St. John (see JOHN, GOSPEL OF SAINT), the Holy Eucharist, and the primacy of the Roman Church.
- Of a second work, written after the "Adversus Haereses", an ancient literal translation in the Armenian language. This is the "Proof of the Apostolic Preaching." The author's aim here is not to confute heretics, but to confirm the faithful by expounding the Christian doctrine to them, and notably by demonstrating the truth of the Gospel by means of the Old Testament prophecies. Although it contains fundamentally, so to speak, nothing that has not already been expounded in the "Adversus Haereses", it is a document of the highest interest, and a magnificent testimony of the deep and lively faith of Irenaeus.
Of his other works only scattered fragments exist; many, indeed, are known only through the mention made of them by later writers, not even fragments of the works themselves having come down to us. These are
- a treatise against the Greeks entitled "On the Subject of Knowledge" (mentioned by Eusebius);
- a writing addressed to the Roman priest Florinus "On the Monarchy, or How God is not the Cause of Evil" (fragment in Eusebius);
- a work "On the Ogdoad", probably against the Ogdoad of Valentinus the Gnostic, written for the same priest Florinus, who had gone over to the sect of the Valentinians (fragment in Eusebius);
- a treatise on schism, addressed to Blastus (mentioned by Eusebius);
- a letter to Pope Victor against the Roman priest Florinus (fragment preserved in Syriac);
- another letter to the same on the Paschal controversies (extracts in Eusebius);
- other letters to various correspondents on the same subject (mentioned by Eusebius, a fragment preserved in Syriac);
- a book of divers discourses, probably a collection of homilies (mentioned by Eusebius); and
- other minor works for which we have less clear or less certain attestations.
It is interesting to note that the four fragments which Pfaff published in 1715, ostensibly from a Turin manuscript, have been proven by Funk to be apocryphal, and Harnack has established the fact that Pfaff himself fabricated them. Source: Catholic Encyclopedia, 1911
On this day there is also a commemoration within the Octave of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist.
This is also the Vigil of the Feasts of the holy Apostles Sts. Peter and Paul. On this vigil in the Divine
Office, the last lesson with the homily on the Gospel was sung by the Pope himself. At one time this vigil was kept with equal solemnity in the Basilicas of St. Peter and of St. Paul. Later the celebration at St. Paul's became monastic;
the people attended the Mass at St. Peter's and the vestments were, for a vigil, violet. In today's Mass St. Irenaeus takes precedence with a commemoration of the Vigil tomorrow at the Collect, Secret and Postcommunion.
Resources: We are grateful to Friends of Our Lady of Fatima for providing the Propers for the faithful. Sources: Saint Andrew Daily Missal and the Marian Missal , 1945
Missa "Lex veritátis"
Go to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE MASS OF THE CATECHUMENS
INTROIT: Malachi 2: 6
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Lex veritátis fuit in ore ejus, et iníquitas non est invénta in lábiis ejus: in pace, et in æquitáte ambulávit mecum, et multos avértit ab iniquitáte. (Ps. 77: 1) Atténdite, pópule meus, legem meam: inclináte aurem
vestram in verba oris mei.
V. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. Repeat Lex veritátis...
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The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and in equity, and turned many away from iniquity. (Ps. 77: 1) With them that hated peace I was peaceful, when I
spake unto them, they fought against me without cause.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. RepeatThe law of truth...
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Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE MASS OF THE CATECHUMENS
COLLECT
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Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. Oremus. Deus, qut beáto Irenæo Mártyri tuo atque Pontífici tribuísti, ut et veritáte doctrínæ expugnáret hæreses, et pacem Ecclésiæ felíciter confirmáret: da,
quæsumus, plebi tuæ in sancta religióne constántiam: et pacem tuam nostris concéde tempóribus. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, Per omnia saecula saeculorum. R. Amen.
Collect Within the Octave of St. John the Baptist
Deus, qui præséntem diem honorábilem nobis in beáti Joánnis nativitáte fecísti: da pópulis tuis spirituálium grátiam gaudiórum; et ómnium fidélium mentes dírige in viam salútis ætérnæ. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, Per omnia saecula saeculorum. R. Amen.
Collect for the Vigil of Sts. Peter and Paul
Orémus. Præsta, quæsumus, omnípotens Deus: ut nullis non pérmíttas perturbatiónibus cóncuti; quos in apostólicæ confessiónis petra solidásti. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, Per omnia saecula saeculorum. R. Amen.
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The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. Let us pray.
O God, Who didst vouchsafe unto blessed Irenaeus, Thy martyr and bishop; by his strenuous teaching of the truth, utterly to confute heresies, and happily to establish peace in Thy Church: unto us Thy people, grant, we
beseech Thee, to be steadfast in the practice of our holy religion, and in all our days to enjoy that peace which is from Thee. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever. R.Amen.
Collect Within the Octave of St. John the Baptist
We beseech Thee, O almighty God, that the double joy of this day's festival, which proceedeth from the glory of blesssed John and Paul, kindred through the one faith and the one martyrdom, may take possession of us. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever. R.Amen.
Collect for the Vigil of Sts. Peter and Paul
Let us pray. Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that Thou permit us not to be shaken by any fears, whom Thou hast solidly established upon the rock of the apostolic confession. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever. R.Amen.
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EPISTLE: 2 Timothy 3: 14-17; 4, 1-5
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Léctio Epístolæ beáti Pauli Apóstoli ad Timótheum.
Carissime: Pérmane in iis, quæ didicísti, et crédita sunt tibi: sciens a quo
didíceris; et quia ab infántia sacras lítteras nosti, quæ te possunt
instrúere ad salútem, per fìdem, quæ est in Christo Jesu. Omnis Scriptúra
divínitus inspiráta útilis est ad docéndum, ad arguéndum ad corripiéndum, ad
erudiéndum in justítia: ut perféctus sit homo Dei, ad omne opus bonum
instrúctus. Testíficor coram Deo, et Jesu Christo, qui judicatúrus est vivos
et mórtuos per advéntum ipsíus, et regnum ejus: prædica verbum, insta
opportúne, importúne: árgue, óbsecra, íncrepa in omni patiéntia, et
doctrina. Erit enim tempus, cum sanam doctrinam non sustinébunt, sed ad sua
desidéria coacervábunt sibi magístros, pruriéntes áuribus, et a veritáte
quidem auditum avértent, ad fábulas autem converténtur. Tu vero vigila, in
ómnibus labóra, opus fac Evangelístæ, ministérium tuum imple.
Deo Gratias.
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Lesson from the Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to Timothy.
Dearly Beloved: Continue thou in those things which thou hast learned and
which have been committed to thee: knowing of Whom thou hast learned them;
and because from thy infancy thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which can
instruct thee to salvation by the faith which is in Jesus Christ. All
Scripture, inspired by God, is profitable to teach, to reprove, to correct,
to instruct in justice, that the man of God may be perfect, furnished to
every good work. I charge thee, before God and Jesus Christ, Who shall judge
the living and the dead by His coming, and His kingdom: Preach the word: be
instant in season, out of season; reprove, entreat, rebuke in all patience
and doctrine. For there shall be a time when they shall not endure sound
doctrine: but according to their own desires, they will heap to themselves
teachers having itching ears, and will indeed turn away their hearing from
the truth, but will be turned unto fables. But be thou vigilant, labor in
all things, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill thy ministry.
Thanks be to God.
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GRADUAL: Ps. 121: 8
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Propter fratres meos, et próximus meos loquébar pacem de te.
V. (Ps. 36: 37) Custódi innocéntiam, et vide æquitátem: quóniam sunt relíquiæ hómìni pacifico.
Allelúja, allelúja. V. (Ecclus. 6: 35) In multitúdine presbyterórum prudéntium sta, et sapiéntiæ illórum ex corde conjúngere, ut omnem narratiónem Dei possis audíre. Allelúja.
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For my brethren and companions' sake, I spake peace concerning thee. V. (Ps. 36: 37) Keep innocence and behold justice, for the prosperity of the peaceable man continues. Alleluia, alleluia. V. (Ecclus. 6: 35) Stand in the multitude of the ancients that are wise, and join thyself from thy heart to their wisdom, that thou mayest hear every discourse of God. Alleluia.
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GOSPEL: Matthew 10: 28-33
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Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Matthaeum. R.Gloria tibi, Domine In illo témpore: Dixit Jesus discípulis Suis: "Nolíte timére eos qui occídunt corpus, ánimam autem non possunt occídere; sed pótius timéte eum qui potent
et ánimam et corpus pérdere in gehénnam. Nonne duo pásseres asse véneunt: et unus ex illis non cadet super terram sine Patre vestro? Vestri autem capílli cápitis omnes numeráti sunt. Nolíte ergo timére: multis passéribus melióres
estis vos. Omnis ergo qui confìtébitur me coram homínibus, confitébor et ego eum coram Patre Meo, Qui in Coelis est. Qui autem negáverit me coram homínibus, negábo et ego eum coram Patre meo, Qui in Coelis est."
Laus tibi Christe.
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The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. The continuation of the holy Gospel according to Matthew. R. Glory to Thee, O Lord
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, " Fear ye not them that kill the
body, and are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing, and not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: better are you than many sparrows. Every one therefore that shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father Who is in Heaven. But he that shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father Who is in Heaven."
Praise be to Christ
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OFFERTORY: Ecclus. 24: 44
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Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
Doctrínam quasi antelucánum illúmino ómnibus, et enarrábo illam usque ad
longínquum.
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The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.
I make my doctrine to shine forth to all as the morning light, and I will declare it afar off.
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Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE OFFERTORY
SECRET
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Deus, Qui credéntes in Te pópulos nullis sinis cóncuti terróribus: dignáre
preces et hóstias Tibi plebis, suscípere; ut pax a Tua pietáte concéssa, Christianórum fines ab nomi hoste fáciat esse secúros. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium Tuum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus
Sancti, Deus, Per omnia saecula saeculorum. R. Amen.
Secret Within the Octave of St. John the Baptist
Tua, Dómine, munéribus altária cumulámus: illíus nativitátem honóre débito celebrántes qui Salvatórem mundi et cécinit adfutúrum, et adésse monstrávit. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spíritus Sancti, Deus, Per omnia saecula saeculorum. R. Amen.
Secret for the Vigil of Sts. Peter and Paul
Munus pópuli tut quæsumus Dómine, apostolíca intercessióne sanctífica:
nosque a peccatórum nostrórum máculifs emúnda. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spíritus Sancti, Deus, Per omnia saecula saeculorum. R. Amen.
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O God, Who suffererest not the nations that believe in Thee to be shaken by any fear, deign, we beseech Thee, to receive the prayers and sacrifices of the people consecrated to Thee, that peace, the gift of Thy loving-kindness, may render Christian countries safe from every enemy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R.Amen.
Secret Within the Octave of St. John the Baptist
We heap Thine altars with gifts, O Lord, celebrating with fitting honor the nativity of him who heralded the coming of the Saviour, and pointed Him out when He had come,Our Lord Jesus Christ, and reignest, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the
Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever. R.Amen.
Secret for the Vigil of Sts. Peter and Paul
Sanctify the gift of Thy people we beseech Thee, O Lord, by the apostolic intercession, and cleanse us from the stains of our sins. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the
Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever. R.Amen.
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PREFACE Common Preface
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Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. Sursum corda. R.Habemus ad Dominum. Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro. R. Dignum et justum est.
Vere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, nos Tibi simper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus: per Christum Dominum nostrum. Per quem majestatem Tuam laudant Angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt Potestates, Coeli, Coelorumque Virtutes, ac beata Seraphim socia exultatione concelebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admitti, jubeas, supplici confessione dicentes:
SANCTUS, SANCTUS, SANCTUS...
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The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.
Lift up your hearts. R.We have lifted them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. R. It is meet and just.
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation that we should at all times and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God: through Christ our Lord. Through Whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the Heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with them we entreat Thee, that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted, while we say in lowly praise:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY...
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Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE CANON OF THE MASS
COMMUNION: Ecclus 24: 47
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Vidéte quóniam non soli mihi laboávi, sed ómnibus exquiréntibus veritátem.
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See ye, that I have not labored for myself only, but for all that seek out the truth.
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POSTCOMMUNION
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Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. Oremus.
Deus, auctor pacis et amátor, quem nosse, vívere, cui servíre, regnáre est:
prótege ab ómnibus impugnatiónibus súpplices tuos: ut, qui in defensióne tua confidimus, beáti Irenæi Mártyris tui atque Pontíficis intercessióne, nullíus hostilitátis arma timeámus. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Filium Tuum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, Per omnia saecula saeculorum. R. Amen.
Postcommunion Within the Octave of St. John the Baptist
Sumat Ecclésia tua, Deus, beáti Joánnis Baptístæ generatióne lætitiam: per quem suæ regeneratiónis cognóvit auctórem. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fiiium tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate
Spíritus Sancti, Deus. Per omnia saecula saeculorum. R. Amen.
Postcommunion for the Vigil of Sts. Peter and Paul
Orémus. Quos coelésti, Dómine, aliménto satiásti: apostólicis intercessiónibus ab omni adversitáte custódi. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fiiium tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate
Spíritus Sancti, Deus. Per omnia saecula saeculorum. R. Amen.
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The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. Let us pray.
O God, the author and lover of peace, to know Whom is to live, and to serve Whom is to reign, protect us Thy suppliants from all assaults, that we, who trust in Thy defense, by the intercession of blessed Irenaeus, Thy martyr
and bishop, may not fear the arms of any of our foes.Through the Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God For ever and ever. R. Amen.
Postcommunion Within the Octave of St. John the Baptist
May Thy Church, O God, be joyful at the birth of blessed John the Baptist, through whom she knew the Author of her regeneration, our Lord Jesus Christ,Thy Son. Who with Thee livest and reignest, in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
God. Through the Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R. Amen.
Postcommunion for the Vigil of Sts. Peter and Paul
Let us pray. Keep from all adversity, O Lord, by the apostolic intercessions, those whom Thou hast filled with heavenly nourishment. Through the Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R. Amen.
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Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS CONCLUSION OF THE HOLY MASS
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